The Gift of Generosity
I love the freshness of a new year. I know it’s just another day, but for me, it's an opportunity to reset, redo, and change. Maybe you are the same - embracing the first days of 2024 with a dedicated focus on how you want 2024 to be. For me, a shorter list is helpful. It’s more likely I will be successful with fewer goals. A shorter list also means what I put on that list really matters. I’ve been mulling over something significant for a few months and pretty sure this will be woven into all of 2024. What is this ‘thing’ taking top shelf space in my life? Generosity.
Doing an online search I found a rich list of definitions on this simple and common word.
“The quality of being kind and generous,”.
“The quality or fact of being plentiful or large,”.
And one I really warmed up to the most, “a willingness to give help or support, esp. more than is usual or expected’. For this blog - generosity is going to refer to support, love, & encouragement.
Let me share a bit of why I’m thinking of, and desiring generosity this year. I’ve been the recipient of generosity from others and my life is richer and better because of it. Actually, I love the Lord more because of the generous love lavished on me by others, especially this past year.
This last year was challenging. As a family, as a wife and mom and grammie, we had hard days, heartbreaking days. The kind of days when you are at a loss for what to do so you reach out to someone and simply ask for prayer, hugs, advice, anything. And when I did, I received so much!
We have a wonderful community of people we love and do life with. A good portion of this community I cherish so deeply happens to be at least ten years older than me. These older women in my life have been generous with me. In emails they have said…”Oh honey, I love you.” In person they have hugged me, looked me in the eye and affirmed their prayer support and love. In countless ways, they have been generous with support, love, grace, comfort, encouragement, hope and so much more.
During the year, I frequently found myself with two recurring statements I would say to myself:
“I want to be generous like these women when I am their age.”
“One thing I love about getting older, is living more generously with people I love.”
Think of that person in your life who just lavishes love on you. A parent, teacher, grandparent, spouse, sibling, friend….They make a difference in our lives because they are a little peek at the abundant, generous love our Father has for us. In them, we see and even experience a taste of the good, generous love God has for us. And when we see that connection, when we thank Him for the way He works through others in our lives, we know Him better and love Him more.
As I’m drafting this blog thinking of you, knowing you are likely young enough to be my daughter, I encourage you to choose this generous love now, while you are young. If I could talk to my younger self, I would say - DON’T wait to be generous. Be this now while you are young. You can be that amazing person who encourages and loves big and graciously. You can have that inviting strength that draws people to you now.
Call to Action —
1. Choose to love generously. Decide.
2. Find people who are and let them mentor you. Learn from them. Let them be your example.
3. Practice! Sometimes the act, the words, the ways you will love generously will feel awkward. The more you love generously - the more comfortable it will be.
I’m cheering you on!
